gnity
as a woman till I see that sight, but that done for me. I was a ripe
apple in his arms 'fore I knew where I was. There's something about a
fine man on his knees that's too much for us women. And it reely was the
penitent on his two knees, not the lover on his one. If he mean it! But
ah! what do you think he begs of me, my dear?--not to make it known in
the house just yet! I can't, I can't say that look well."

Lucy attributed it to his sense of shame at his conduct, and Mrs. Berry
did her best to look on it in that light.

"Did the bar'net kiss ye when you wished him goodnight?" she asked. Lucy
said he had not. "Then bide awake as long as ye can," was Mrs. Berry's
rejoinder. "And now let us pray blessings on that simple-speaking
gentleman who does so much 'cause he says so little."

Like many other natural people, Mrs. Berry was only silly where her own
soft heart was concerned. As she secretly anticipated, the baronet came
into her room when all was quiet. She saw him go and bend over Richard
the Second, and remain earnestly watching him. He then went to the
half-opened door of the room where Lucy slept, leaned his ear a moment,
knocked gently, and entered. Mrs. Berry heard low words interchanging
within. She could not catch a syllable, yet she would have sworn to the
context. "He've called her his daughter, promised her happiness, and
given a father's kiss to her." When Sir Austin passed out she was in a
deep sleep.

CHAPTER XLII

Briareus reddening angrily over the sea--what is that vaporous Titan? And
Hesper set in his rosy garland--why looks he so implacably sweet? It is
that one has left that bright home to go forth and do cloudy work, and he
has got a stain with which he dare not return. Far in the West fair Lucy
beckons him to come. Ah, heaven! if he might! How strong and fierce the
temptation is! how subtle the sleepless desire! it drugs his reason, his
honour. For he loves her; she is still the first and only woman to him.
Otherwise would this black spot be hell to him? otherwise would his limbs
be chained while her arms are spread open to him. And if he loves her,
why then what is one fall in the pit, or a thousand? Is not love the
password to that beckoning bliss? So may we say; but here is one whose
body has been made a temple to him, and it is desecrated.

A temple, and desecrated! For what is it fit for but for a dance of
devils? His education has thus wrought him to think.

He can bla